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Jays are further along on their hopeful path toward contention. Hopefully.

Author of the article:

vancouversuneditor

Publishing date:

March 15, 2011 • 5 minute read

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Think about the upcoming Blue Jay season and ask yourself —is there anyone on the roster that can be expected to produce at a specific, hopefully high, level this year? With veteran players there is the reassurance of consistency—the Red Sox, for example, can expect a certain amount of production from the likes of Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia while the Yankees can feel confident knowing that Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter will produce numbers similar to last year. For the Jays, however, there is not one player with enough consistency behind to guarantee numbers for this year. Not one.

Let’s start at first base where Adam Lind is learning the position. Lind had a great season two years ago and looked poised to be a consistent hitter for a number of years to come but last season a seemingly helpless Lind fell into his old bad habits. Will Lind show more patience this year and avoid the deadly temptation of the high fastball, or will he give in and again be more average than good? We shall see.

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Aaron Hill has not played this spring due to a leg injury—similar to the kind of injury that plagued him for most of last year. Hill had a break-out season two years ago but struggled last year and barely made it over the Mendoza line—the absolute bottom level for a major league hitter. Will we see break out Hill or will it be broken down Hill? There is no certainty there.

Yunel Escobar had two quality seasons back to back with the Atlanta Braves but then last year issues in the clubhouse affected his play and ultimately caused his departure. Once in Toronto he settled down and began to show the solid line-drive stroke he was developing as a Brave, but if insecurity can cause such a downfall in his play in Atlanta how will he handle it if he experiences some down times in Toronto? Will Escobar finally find consistent play? Or will he remain maddeningly inconsistent. We don’t know.

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It looks as if Jose Bautista will start the season at third base—though only for as long as the Jays can wait before handing the position to Brett Lawrie (pictured above at spring training). Ideally the Jays would like to wait a couple of months before promoting Lawrie to allow their prized prospect more time to develop, and for the temporary Jay Juan Rivera to play enough to hopefully gain some trade interest. As for Bautista—his rise from mediocrity is well known. Bautista went from the first floor to the penthouse in one year. But to expect 54 home runs again is to expect the inconceivable. And if so– how good can Bautista be this year? The likelihood is that Bautista shows less power but more all-around game as he rockets from part-time player into the role of team leader. Hopefully the added responsibilities do not impact his game. Hopefully.

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If the Blue Jays are ever going to take the next step into contention they need Travis Snider to become a middle of the order hitter. Snider possesses a damaging swing (damaging to baseballs) and is evolving into a major league player but needs to find the consistency that separates the men from the boys. When he does he will be very good. But when will that happen? Maybe this year?

Rajai Davis is a slap-hitting centerfielder with range and speed who hopefully will play 120 games and, if he finds patience as he matures, could produce good numbers out of the lead-off spot. How much? And for how long?

And JP Arencibia is a rookie catcher.

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The rotation supposedly lost its ace in the off-season when Shaun Marcum was traded for Lawrie. But in reality Marcum was the fourth starter who was used as an ace because of his experience. The Jays now believe Romero, Morrow and Cecil have enough experience to anchor the rotation.

Romero has had a couple of quality major league seasons but is now being thrust into a role he has never filled. How will he handle being the ace?

Morrow was a reliever/starter/ reliever/ starter with Seattle until last year. The Jays showed confidence and patience in the young pitcher and after a good few months of work are ready to hand the number two spot to Morrow. After a few good months.

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Cecil, in his first full season as a major league starter, won a team best 15 games last year and is the number three starter this year.

The team expects to get 45 wins from these three this season—three starters who have combined to earn 67 wins in their entire collective careers. Brand new territory for them as well.

Numbers four and five are yet to be determined but will likely be filled by members of the very deep Blue Jay prospect field. Barring something unforeseen those spots will be filled by Kyle Drabek and Jesse Litsch—though the club is patiently waiting for Zack Stewart to become major league ready.

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The bullpen is deep with experienced right handed relievers who have filled various roles with different clubs over the years. It will definitely be a game of mix and match for rookie manager John Farrell the entire season unless, similar to last season when Kevin Gregg assumed the closer role, someone takes charge.

Did I mention the rookie manager?

The Jays have certainly done their due diligence in drafting, developing and dealing for quality young talent. They have faith in many of their players and have hope with the others. If half of their expectations come true the Jays will be a competitive team. If a good majority does, however, this club has enough potential to contend for the division.

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Which team we will see? Hopefully the latter.

…So the general consensus is that Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy went way over the line when he referred to the NBA head office as “Stern and his minions”. The Magic coach was defending his star player after Dwight Howard incurred an automatic one game suspension for receiving 16 technicals in one season. As honest as he felt and as accurate as he was Van Gundy knew the retribution for that comment would be severe. The NBA can’t have any member of the league attacking the Commissioner. Stern talked to the Magic owners who then had a talk with Van Gundy. Politics.

…Hey the NHL just passed a policy where a player, if suspected of a concussion, needs to have his head examined by a doctor before being let back into the game. Revolutionary thinking. Ladies and Gentlemen—the NHL.

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